Radiant skin remains a top desire of consumers everywhere, and one trending product segment is proving to be the ultimate fast track to a glowing complexion: glycolic acid facial serums.

“The absolute easiest route to glowing, radiant, and youthful-looking skin? Simple: Incorporate a chemical exfoliant into your regular routine. Glycolic acid is by far one of the most popular choices,” explains Corne Bonilla in Harper’s Bazaar

A true workhorse ingredient, glycolic acid is a top choice for highly effective, multipurpose facial serums that can deliver on multiple claims and work for a variety of skin types. For more radiant skin, glycolic acid face serums simply can’t be beaten.

Super serums

A facial serum is typically a non-greasy, clear gel or liquid, a water-based skincare product that is applied to the face and neck after cleansing and before moisturizing. Serums are formulated to deliver highly concentrated doses of active ingredients, like glycolic acid, deep into the skin. 

“If you think of your nightly skincare routine as a three course meal, serum is kind of like the main course. After kicking things off with an appetizer (a.k.a. cleansing your face), and before treating yourself to dessert (aka a nourishing moisturizer), you fill up on all the important nutrients (aka serum),” according to USA Today.

Facial serums get a lot of love from dermatologists, skincare experts, and consumers alike because these formulations can deliver visible results and deliver them quickly.

The popularity of glycolic acid serums

Glycolic acid is one of the most popular facial serum ingredients to include in formulations, thanks to the molecule’s ability to treat, improve, and heal the skin in a multitude of ways.

Glycolic acid facial serums are excellent for:

  • Treating scarring
  • Evening-out discoloration, spots, and hyperpigmentation 
  • Improving the signs of aging, like wrinkles and fine lines
  • Reducing pore size
  • Boosting radiance and glow

This “miracle ingredient” is able to deliver so many improvements for one key reason: glycolic acid has a superior ability to chemically exfoliate the skin.

Multitasking with glycolic acid

Serums are usually formulated with smaller molecules, which makes glycolic acid a perfect fit for these super-charged skincare products. As the smallest and lightest molecule in the Alpha Hydroxy Acid family, glycolic acid can best penetrate the surface of the skin and work to promote rapid improvements.

Create a smoother, more radiant complexion fast!

Once applied, glycolic effectively and gently chemically exfoliates the skin by dissolving the small bonds holding skin cells together. By quickly inducing skin cell turnover, glycolic acid helps to shed off dead, dull skin cells and create a smoother, more radiant complexion fast.

Glycolic acid also drives new skin cells to the surface of the face, which helps to improve issues like hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and wrinkles. New skin cells are also more likely to maintain moisture levels and exfoliate regularly, which helps to maintain skin health and appearance over the long haul.

Finally, glycolic acid offers one more rocket booster of results to facial serum formulations. Glycolic acid helps to improve and repair the production of collagen and elastin, two proteins crucial for firm, plump, skin. By acting as a partner to collagen and elastin, glycolic acid reduces signs of aging and promotes more glowing skin.

Facial serum success

The future of the facial serum market is glowingly bright right now. Glycolic acid serums are scoring impressively with consumers seeking out highly concentrated formulations that rapidly deliver a variety of visible improvements and promote a radiant complexion.  For product planners and formulators, it’s another brilliant opportunity where glycolic acid can drive sales success.